The species name leucotrichus tells the story plainly: leuco for white, trichus for hair. This native of Bulgaria, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey grows on rocky mountain slopes up to 10,000 feet, and the densely hairy grayish-green foliage it has evolved there does double duty in the garden, reflecting heat and holding moisture in the leaf surface. Plants reach six to eight inches high and spread six to twelve inches wide, forming a tidy low mound rather than a flat creeping mat.

Tiny purple to pinkish-lilac flowers bloom from early to midsummer, drawing bees and butterflies reliably. The leaves carry a sharp, spicy flavor that makes them useful in the kitchen, though the plant earns its place equally as an ornamental. Full sun and well-drained soil are the only real requirements; it naturalizes readily and tolerates drought once settled in. Light pruning in spring keeps the growth from becoming too woody. Division for propagation is reportedly tricky, so rooted cuttings are the more dependable route.